Side Door For Walk-In Tub

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a door assembly for a walk-in bathtub. The assembly includes a frame shaped to fit a door threshold in the side of the walk-in bathtub, wherein the frame includes a track dedicated to accommodating a gasket along the length of the frame. The frame also includes a track dedicated to accommodating door hinges. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame is made of a single extruded piece of aluminum that is powder coated to match the acrylic surface of the walk-in tub. The door is mounted onto the frame with hinges. A gasket is inserted into the track in the door frame and forms a water tight seal between the door and the frame. The door assembly can be installed in the bathtub as a separate, pre-assembled system, similar to a pre-hung door.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/550,956 filed Oct. 19, 2006, the technical disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of walk-in bathtubs and more specifically to the side doors used for walk-in tubs and the method for manufacturing the doors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Walk-in bathtubs comprise high tub walls with a high built in seat and a side door, allowing the user to walk into the tub from the side and sit down without having to climb down into a low bath tub. FIG. 1 shows a typical example of a walk-in bathtub in accordance with the prior art. Walk-in tubs are particularly suited for individuals who have physical limitations that make it difficult or dangerous to climb into and out of a regular, low bathtub or to stand up in a shower for extended periods of time. Such limitations might include physical disabilities or simply the reduced strength, balance and range of motion that typically occur with advancing age. Walk-in tubs are not only easier to enter and exit than conventional bathtubs, they also reduce the chances of slips and falls compared to conventional tubs and showers.

In addition to safety, the ease of entering the tub via the side walk-in door also provides users with independence, allowing them to bathe without the assistance of another person when getting into and out of the tub.

Typically, the side doors used with walk-in tubs have two-part hinges that are screwed directly into the tub wall. This mounting configuration is analogous mounting a house door directly onto the wall instead of a frame. This design lacks the benefit of the additional structural integrity provided by a door frame, which can help keep the walls of the tub from flexing.

Because of their depth, walk-in bathtubs are typically made from gel-coated fiberglass, including the side doors. However, acrylic is the preferred material for conventional bathtub manufacturers because it is germ and stain resistant, has good heat retaining qualities, keeps its luster longer and is durable. Because acrylic is non-porous, it resists mold and mildew making it easier to clear. The reason for using fiberglass in manufacturing walk-in tubs lies in the technical difficulties in forming the deep basin of the tub with a single sheet of acrylic. Do to the depth of the tubs and seat heights approaching 17 inches above the tub floor, acrylic has a tendency to tear during the vacuum forming process or become excessively thin at the bottom, comprising its ability to hold the requisite water weight.

New manufacturing methods are now making it possible to vacuum form deep walk-in tubs using acrylic sheets. However, vacuum forming acrylic typically results in surface inconsistencies that are very difficult if not impossible to eliminate. Because the conventional door design for walk-in tubs relies upon direct contact between the door and tub wall to maintain the water seal, this design is ill suited for use with acrylic tubs due to the surface inconsistencies, especially if the door is also made of acrylic. Additionally, unlike gel-coated fiberglass walk-in bathtubs, with acrylic it is very difficult if not impossible to create a finished door threshold during the forming process, resulting in labor intensive production steps to create the finished surface.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved door design for walk-in bathtubs that includes the benefits of a pre-hung door assembly and is capable of maintaining the proper water seal and speed up the production process when implemented with acrylic tubs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a door assembly for a walk-in bathtub. The assembly includes a frame shaped to fit a door threshold in the side of the walk-in bathtub, wherein the frame includes a track dedicated to accommodating a gasket along the length of the frame. The frame also includes a track dedicated to accommodating door hinges. Both of these tracks are designed for production efficiency and easy field maintenance. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame is made of a single extruded piece of aluminum that is powder coated to match the acrylic surface of the walk-in tub. The door is mounted onto the frame with hinges and finish caps are added to the top of the frame.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the door is comprised of two halves. The first half is vacuum formed from acrylic and is shaped to fit within the frame and match the depth of the threshold. The second half is a flat panel that covers the first half and forms the flat inside surface of the door.

A gasket is inserted into the track in the door frame and forms a water tight seal between the door and the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a typical example of a walk-in bathtub in accordance with the prior art;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the general process of vacuum thermoforming which may be used with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of forming a walk-in bathtub in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the temperature differential used in heating the acrylic sheet in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows the wood support for the underside of the seat;

FIG. 6 shows an example of a bathtub with an integrated side apron in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a bathtub without an apron in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a support frame in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows the space between the apron and tub side wall in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows the door threshold of a tub with the apron as a separate piece in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting the process of manufacturing a door assembly for a walk-in bathtub in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows two example threshold door pieces, one facing up and the other facing down;

FIG. 13 shows an assembled side door after it has been sanded and painted;

FIG. 14 shows the door frame mounted in place on the door threshold;

FIG. 15 shows the door frame trimmed to match the height of the tub;

FIG. 16 shows an exploded perspective view illustrating how the door frame, door, and hinge fit together;

FIG. 17 shows a gasket into the designated track of the frame in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18A is an exploded perspective view of the walk-in bathtub showing the relationship between the main components of the tub;

FIG. 18B shows a perspective view of the fully assembled walk-in bathtub;

FIG. 19 shows the base for the door handle mounted onto the inside wall of the bathtub;

FIG. 20 shows the door handle mounted onto the handle base;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the assembled walk-in bath tub; and

FIG. 22 is a cut away side view of the walk-in bathtub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Acrylic sheet is commonly manufactured by one of three techniques. Each technique offers unique benefits, from cost and physical properties to variety of color and finish. Depending on the fabricator's needs, one type may be more appropriate than another. Understanding the manufacturing processes and differences between the end products is instrumental in choosing the proper material for a given application.

Extrusion is a continuous production method of manufacturing acrylic sheet. In the extrusion process, pellets of resins are fed into an extruder which heats them until they are a molten mass. This mass is then forced through a die as a molten sheet, which is then fed to calender rolls, the spacing of which determine the thickness of the sheet and in some cases the surface finish. The continuous band of sheet may then be cut or trimmed into its final size.

The final product of extrusion exhibits much closer thickness tolerances than cast sheet. Because of the volume at which extruded sheet is produced, it is generally the most economical form available. It is available in a fair selection of colors, finishes and sizes.

Extruded acrylic sheet is prone to shrinking along the extruded line and expansion across it. This is of particular note if the acrylic is used for thermoforming. Extruded material also has a tendency to gum during fabrication if the cutting is too fast (linear feed rate) because it has a lower molecular weight. It also may absorb fast drying solvent cements faster than cast or continuous cast material. This can result in joint failures and incomplete gluing. To remedy this, slower drying cements and tooling designed for cutting extruded acrylic are generally used.

Continuous casting is an alternative method of mass producing acrylic sheet. This process involves pouring partially polymerized acrylic (somewhat less viscous than “Karo” syrup) between two highly polished stainless steel belts. The belts are separated by a space equal to the thickness of the sheet and the syrup is retained by gaskets at the edge of the belts. The belts move through a series of cooling and heating units to regulate the curing and are cut on the fly to size at the end of the production line.

One advantage of this process is partial polymerization of the material prior to casting. Some of the heat of polymerization (heat which is evolved as the liquid monomer is converted to a solid resin) is removed before the “syrup” is fed to the belt system. This contributes to the control of the continuous process.

Material costs favor continuous casting over extruded sheet manufacturing, as the cost of monomer is much less than that of polymer pellets. However, the production cost per unit of product is less for extrusion. Which process is more economical depends on the capacity and utility of the facilities as well as the cost of materials and equipment. In terms of competitive pricing between continuous cast and extruded acrylic, there are approximately a dozen extruders of acrylic sheet and only two continuous cast manufacturers in the U.S. This will have obvious effects on competitive pricing.

Continuous Cast acrylic offers good optical clarity, more uniform thickness and limited shrinkage during thermoforming.

A third method of manufacturing acrylic sheet is called cell casting. Cell casting historically has been carried out using one of three processes. The first process is the water bath technique in which acrylic syrup is poured into a mold typically constructed from two tempered glass sheets separated to produce the desired thickness of the sheet and sealed with a gasket at the edge. The mold is then submerged in a bath which maintains/controls a curing temperature and efficiently removes the heat generated in the process when the monomer is converted to polymer. (Note: Monomer is not used in cell casting.) The viscosity of acrylic monomer must be raised somewhat to avoid leakage of the molds or cells.

The second casting technique is the original process which involves placing the molds containing a syrup into a circulating air oven in which air at a controlled temperature passes at a moderately high velocity over the surface of the mold.

The third method, developed by the Polycast Company, is an advancement over the water bath process was and involves the use of a piece of equipment similar to a plate and frame filter press. Sections which serve as the mold for the sheet are alternated with sections through which water at a regulated temperature is circulated to promote the polymerization and cure of the sheet.

Cell cast products are subjected to a post-cure or annealing process. The sheet, as taken from the oven, bath or casting machine, will usually have “high” residual monomer content. The polymerization process is not complete. Post-curing reduces the residual monomer content and serves to insure that no bubbling of the sheet occurs if the sheet is heated for thermoforming.

When casting a sheet from syrup a change in density (specific gravity) of the ingredients occurs. Shrinkage of about 20% is typically experienced. In the cell casting process most shrinkage occurs in thickness. The surface of the mold (tempered glass sheet) restrains the plastic sheet from shrinkage in terms of length and width. The annealing, in which the sheet is heated to its softening point, allows the sheet to relax or shrink, removing residual stress.

Cell cast products provide optical clarity, greater surface hardness and machine cleanly. They are offered in many colors, finishes and thicknesses. However, they do have greater thickness variation, making them less desirable for fitting into extrusions or thermoforming where uniform wall thickness must be maintained.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes continuous casting. However, any of the acrylic sheet manufacturing methods described above can be used with the present invention.

Thermoforming (or vacuum forming) is a process in which a flat thermoplastic sheet is heated and deformed into the desired shape. The process is widely used in packaging consumer products and fabricating large items such as bathtubs, contoured skylights, and internal door liners for refrigerators.

As the name implies, thermoforming comprises two main steps: 1) heating and 2) forming. Heating is usually accomplished by radiant electric heaters, located on one or both sides of the starting plastic sheet at a distance of roughly 125 mm (5 in.). The duration of the heating cycle needed to sufficiently soften the sheet depends on the polymer, its thickness and color.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the general process of vacuum thermoforming which may be used with the present invention. Developed in the 1950's, vacuum thermoforming (also called vacuum forming) uses negative pressure to draw a preheated sheet into a mold cavity. FIG. 2A illustrates the first step, in which a flat acrylic sheet is softened by heating. The sheet 201, held by clamps 211,212 is placed in close proximity to a radiant heather 220.

In FIG. 2B the softened sheet 201 is placed over a concave mold cavity 230. As shown in FIG. 2C, a vacuum created through vacuum holes 240 draws the sheet 201 into the mold cavity 230. In most applications the holes for drawing the vacuum in the mold are on the order of 0.8 mm (0.031 in.) in diameter, so their effect on the plastic surface is minor.

FIG. 2D shows the molded part 201′ being removed from the mold after the plastic has hardened from contact with the cold mold surface. After the molded part 201′ is removed from the clamps 211, 212, it is trimmed from the web 250, which is the residual plastic that was held within the clamps 211,212 but is not part of the mold design.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of forming a walk-in bathtub in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The process begins by fitting the vacuum mold to the former (step 301) and spraying the inside of the mold with a mold release (step 302). It should be pointed out that mold release agents are not always used in vacuum forming. However, experience in developing the method of the present invention revealed that a release agent facilitated the even flow of the acrylic over the surface of the mold due to the depth of the mold.

Next, the acrylic sheet is heated (step 303). In the preferred embodiment, the acrylic sheet used to form the tub comprises continuous cast Lucite XL acrylic 0.187. However, other acrylics with similar characteristics may be used. The oven that is used to heat the sheet is a multi-zoned oven that allows the acrylic sheet to be heated to different temperatures at different points of the sheet.

FIG. 4 illustrates the temperature differential used in heating the acrylic sheet in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The outer portion of the sheet is heated to approximately 370° F., and the inner portion is heated to 310° F. The purpose of using this heating differential is to minimize differences in stretching between different regions of the acrylic sheet as it cools moves along the surface of the mold while cooling. Because of the depth of the foot well in the tub (up to 33 inches) great care is taken to ensure that the acrylic forming the sides of the tub does not cool too quickly as it moves along the sides of the mold. If the acrylic cools too quickly it will begin to stretch unevenly, with the acrylic becoming progressively thinner as it approaches the bottom of the foot well, similar to stretching a piece of cold taffy. The higher temperature (370° F.) used for the outer portion of the acrylic sheet helps maintain the proper viscosity of the acrylic long enough to complete the vacuum forming process before contact with the mold surface cools the acrylic. The use of the mold release also facilitates the even stretch of the acrylic as it moves over the surface of the mold.

The outside is heated at a higher temperature to allow more of that area to be pulled into the foot well. However, if the center was the same temperature as the outer portion it would have to stretch the full depth of the tub in the area and would pop before reaching the bottom. The temperatures used in the method of the present invention allow for proper distribution of the acrylic sheet to achieve the required thickness at the deepest point.

Returning to FIG. 3, after the acrylic sheet is heated, the vacuum is activated (step 304), and the heated acrylic sheet is placed over the mold (step 305). The mold is pushed into the heated acrylic two and a half inches and the rest is formed by the vacuum. The vacuum is initially started at a pressure of approximately 25 inches of mercury.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the mold is actually held upside down and the acrylic is drawn upward into the mold. The inverted mold configuration is used for bathtub models that have the side apron integrated with the main body of the bathtub as a single piece (explained in more detail below). Manufacturing experience has revealed that attempting to pull the integral apron with the mold positioned right side up often tears the acrylic sheet.

As the acrylic sheet is drawn into the mold, the vacuum is manually reduced as the acrylic reaches the top of the seat and then shut off when the acrylic is approximately two inches from the bottom of the tub so that the sheet pulls slower (step 306). Due to uncontrollable pressure and environmental changes this is manual process and requires a skilled vacuum operator. Slowing the vacuum allows a larger part of the sheet to be drawn in the well of the tub (the deepest point). Too much vacuum will cause the center portion of the sheet to overstretch because the outsides of the sheets have not been fully maximized. Shutting off the vacuum approximately two inches above the bottom allows for a consistent uniform forming of the radius.

The acrylic is cooled with air (step 307) and then removed from the mold (step 308).

After removal from the mold, the tub is reinforced with fiberglass (step 309). This comprises a multi-step process of spraying fiberglass onto the underside of the molded tub and letting each application cure before adding the next layer. In the preferred embodiment, two to three applications of fiberglass are used to reinforce the tub.

Wood supports are fiberglassed to the well and the seat after the first spraying to provide structural support. FIG. 5 shows the wood support 501 for the underside of the seat. The wood support 701 for the foot well is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 7.

After the fiberglass has cured, the edges of the tub are trimmed from the web and then sanded (step 310).

The method of the present invention can be applied to form two main types of tubs. The first type includes the side apron with the main body of the tub as one integral piece, as shown in FIG. 6. The second type of tub does not include the side apron as an integral piece, as shown in FIG. 7 (which pictures the tub upside down for fiberglass application).

The advantage of having the apron as an integrated part of the tub is that it reduces the number of manufacturing steps. However, having the apron integral with the tub limits the depth of the foot well because the sheet has to be formed inside and outside of the mold which requires a much larger sheet of acrylic. Another disadvantage of the integrated apron is the gap in the door space, explained in more detail below. The preferred embodiment of the present invention has the side apron manufactured as a separate piece which is later added to the tub.

Once the body of the bathtub has been formed, reinforced, and trimmed and sanded, it is secured to a freestanding metal support frame (step 311).

FIG. 8 shows an example of a support frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The frame 800 is designed to keep the side door from flexing when water is added to the bathtub or due to moisture changes in the bathroom. In addition, its design allows for quick and easy field and manufacturing installation. The cut out 810 on the faucet side makes it easy to install the plumbing. The five adjustable leveling feet 801-805 also enable reverse plumbing, which comprises running the faucets under the tub when the door needs to be on a particular side and the plumbing is on the opposite side. The adjustable feet 801-805 also allow one to drop the tub (if the tub plumbing can be recessed into the floor) to further drop the walk-in threshold making it even easier to get into the tub. In the preferred embodiment, the feet allow the tub to be dropped up to two and half inches. The frame 800 also includes a support 820 for the seat of the tub.

In the preferred embodiment, after the tub has been secured to the frame, the apron is attached to the tub (step 312). The space for the walk-in side door is then cut out from the side of the tub (step 313). Bondo putty or waterproof filler is added to the space between the apron and tub side wall. This space 901 is illustrated in FIG. 9.

As stated briefly above, the type of apron will determine the amount of space between the apron and tub wall, and therefore, the amount of putty that has to be used to fill this space. This due to the fact that the bottom of the door threshold that connects the foot well with the apron cannot be formed in the vacuum forming process because the sheet is drawn both to the inside (to create the tub) and the outside (to create the apron), and the thickness of the mold that separates the inside and outside will be the open space when the door is cut out. The example illustrated in FIG. 9 depicts a bathtub with the apron integrated as one piece with the tub.

FIG. 10 shows the door threshold of a tub with the apron added as a separate piece. In contrast to the integrated apron, if the apron is added to the tub as a separate piece there is a smaller gap between the apron and tub wall because the apron can be constructed to cover the necessary space of the door threshold and then attached to the tub. An important feature of the apron is the depth of the threshold, which in the preferred embodiment is approximately two and a half inches. As can be seen in this example, there is a smaller gap 1010 between the apron 1020 and tub wall 1030, which significantly reduces the labor intensive manufacturing steps of filling the entire threshold with putty.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a flowchart illustrates the process of manufacturing a door assembly for a walk-in bathtub in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The door itself is comprised of two main pieces. The threshold piece is vacuum formed to fit within the door threshold in the side of the tub (step 1101). FIG. 12 shows two examples of the threshold door pieces 1201, 1202, one facing up and the other facing down. After the threshold piece is vacuum formed, it is trimmed from the web (step 1102).

The second piece of the door is a flat panel that simply covers the indentation of the threshold piece. The two door halves are bonded together (step 1103), and the door is then sanded and painted, as shown in FIG. 13 (step 1104). After that, the strike plates are added (step 1105).

The frame for the door assembly comprises a single aluminum piece that is extruded and shaped to fit the edge of the door threshold (step 1106). The extruded frame includes a channel for a rubber gasket that forms part of the tub's water seal. In the preferred embodiment, the extrusion is made with 60-61 or 60-63 aluminum. This type of aluminum allows the extrusion to be bent into the proper shape without pinching the gasket channel.

After it has been shaped, the extrusion is powder coated and mounted onto the tub (step 1107). FIG. 14 shows the door frame 1401 mounted in place on the door threshold. The frame is secured to the threshold with a waterproof adhesive (e.g., GT-3100 Neutral). The frame 1401 is then secured to the tub by a retaining screw (not shown) to supplement the adhesive.

Once is place, the ends of the extruded frame are cut to match the height of the tub (step 1108). FIG. 15 shows the extrusion 1401 after it has been trimmed. As shown in the picture, a piece of wood 1501 or other material may be used to secure the ends of the extrusion 1401 while the adhesive sets.

After the door frame is securely in place, the hinges of the door are aligned and attached to the frame and door (step 1109). FIG. 16 shows an exploded perspective view illustrating how the door frame 1401, door 1601, and hinge 1602 fit together. The frame includes a track 1410 on the outer edge that is specifically dedicated to mounting the hinge 1602.

After the door is mounted, a gasket is inserted into the seal track of the frame, as illustrated in FIG. 17 (step 1110). The gasket 1701 helps form the water tight seal of the door. FIG. 17 also clearly shows the dedicate hinge track 1410 on the door frame 1401.

Caps 1801, 1802 are added to ends of the aluminum frame, as show in FIGS. 18A and 18B, which shows a finished tub and door (step 1111). Using caps over ends of the frame helps reduces labor costs and speeds up the production process, as well as helping to blend the extrusion with the tub frame.

Finally, the handle base 1901 is fastened to the tub (step 1112), shown in FIG. 19. The handle 2010 is then fastened to the base, as shown in FIG. 20 (step 1113).

The door of the present invention is similar to a regular pre-hung door that would be found in a house and can be installed into the tub as a separate, pre-assembled unit. Prior art walk-in tubs have the door attached directly to the side of the tub, which is analogous to mounting a house door directly to the wall. The extruded frame used in the present invention provides structural integrity to the tub and insures proper alignment of the system as it is contained as one unit. The frame keeps the walls of the tub from flexing, and the dedicated hinge track helps keep the door aligned, thus maintaining the integrity of the water seal. The metal frame also improves the door seal by covering surface inconsistencies that often occur with acrylic, especially at the depths used in the present invention (i.e. up to 33 inches). In addition, the frame improves the door seal by provides a dedicated track for the gasket. The dedicated tracks also allow for easy maintenance if anything goes wrong in the field.

The above description of the door design is specifically directed toward an acrylic tub design. However, it should be pointed out that most of the benefits of the door design of the present invention are equally applicable to conventional gel-coat fiberglass tubs by providing a complete pre-hung door assembly. Though surface inconsistencies are not generally a problem with gel-coated fiberglass, the present design still has the additional benefit of a dedicated seal track within the door frame, rather than relying exclusively upon contact between the door and tub wall to maintain the water seal.

FIG. 18A is an exploded perspective view of the walk-in bathtub 1800 showing the relationship between the main components of the tub. FIG. 18B shows a perspective view of the fully assembled walk-in bathtub 1800. As shown in FIG. 18B, the door 1601 opens to the inside of the tub 1800, unlike the door of the prior art tub shown in FIG. 1. Because the side door 1601 opens to the inside, the water seal is largely maintained by outward hydrostatic pressure when the tub is filled with water.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the assembled walk-in bath tub.

FIG. 22 is a cut away side view of the walk-in bathtub. This view clearly shows the depth of the foot well in relation to the seat of the tub.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the claims. 

1. A door assembly for a walk-in bathtub, comprising: (a) a frame shaped to fit a door threshold in a side of the walk-in bathtub, wherein the frame includes: a first track dedicated to accommodate a gasket along the length of the frame; and a second track dedicated to mounting a hinge; (b) a door shaped to fit into said frame; (c) at least one hinge that mounts the door onto said second track of the frame; and (d) a gasket inserted into said first track in the frame, wherein the gasket forms a water tight seal between the door and frame.
 2. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the door assembly can be installed in the walk-in bathtub as a pre-assembled unit.
 3. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a single extruded piece of aluminum.
 4. The door assembly according to claim 3, wherein the frame is made of 60-61 gauge aluminum.
 5. The door assembly according to claim 3, wherein the frame is made of 60-63 gauge aluminum.
 6. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the door is vacuum formed from acrylic.
 7. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the door further comprise: (a) a first piece that is shaped to match the depth of the door threshold; and (b) a second piece that forms a flat surface.
 8. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the door opens inward into the bathtub, wherein when the door is closed and the bathtub is filled with water, hydrostatic pressure against the door helps to maintain the water seal. 